El Mercurio

CA3
Style of food: International
Cost: Moderate
Type of place: State
Food
Ambience
Service
Value
Best for: People watching onto the San Francisco square
Worst for: This is not gourmet cuisine.
Edificio Lonja del Comercio, Plaza de San Francisco
(+53)7860 - 6188
Open 7am-midnight
  • Located on the ground floor of Lonja del Comercio, an old building that in 1996 was turned into the first modern office building in the Cuban capital, the Mercurio (Mercury) opened its doors on 27 January 1997. It owes its name to the Roman god whose statue is placed on top of the building dome.

    This is probably best seen as a reliable café, which has very comfortable booths where you can watch the world go by in the San Francisco Plaza. This always has a regular turnover of people and has something of a hum to it. The service is good, fast and friendly.

    There is nothing wrong with the food. This is not exquisite cuisine but a standard international menu done well. Personally, I think this makes the perfect place to get eggs and bacon in the morning and a beer later in the afternoon.

    
  • Bom Apetite

    Bom Apetite  LH 4

    Walking in on a rainy night to Bon Appetite was like walking into an oasis. We had tried a few other places nearby which were all deserted, dead. We had put it down to the weather and planned to head …

    Raquel Hotel – Jardín del Edén

    Raquel Hotel – Jardín del Edén  LH 3

    The beautifully restored Hotel Raquel is another testament to the wonders being performed by Habaguanex, the Historian’s Office commercial wing. Opened in 2009, the stained glass ceiling simply takes …

    Santana

    Santana  LH 3

    Santana opened in November 2011. I love the name (Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana) and although it has nothing really to do with the place, it does sound nice and is easy …

    La Barca

    La Barca  LH 4-

    La Barca restaurant is located next to El Templete and has also benefited from the Catalan Jordi Escarra’s inspiration and management. The site now occupied by the restaurant was once the property of …

    Hostal Valencia – La Paella

    Hostal Valencia – La Paella  LH 3+

    One of our favourite choices for dinner in Old Havana, La Paella has a relaxed, intimate and charming ambience fully in keeping with the lovely boutique hotel (Hostal Valencia). The trademark paella d …

    El Baturro

    El Baturro  LH 3

    In 1919, Romualdo Lalueza, a wine and liquor wholesaler and importer from Spain, occupied the building where he had his warehouse and canteen café called El Baturro. Well into 1944, he advertised his …

    Razones

    Razones  LH 3

    Razones is a mid-tier place, which attracts a middle class Cuban crowd, and tourists staying nearby in this residential neighbourhood. Even mid week there is a busy feel to the place, which is explain …

    Castas y Tal

    Castas y Tal  LH 3

    Castas y Tal is located on the 11th floor of a large apartment building in Vedado, just around the corner from Hotel Presidente. The restaurant really has three discreet areas, a main dining room that …

    Al Medina

    Al Medina  LH 3

    Al Medina (The City) opened in 1983 as a Middle Eastern restaurant housed inside a lovely 17th-century building, which was formerly a boys’ school. The menu features a large collection of dishes, gril …

    Doña Blanquita

    Doña Blanquita  LH 3

    Overlooking the Prado boulevard, this has a great location and a pleasant relaxed ambience. Although it could probably do with something of an upgrade, it has been in business for many years and has a …

    « 6 of 14 pages »